Twelve weeks since the injury and he was still reliving that godawful game almost every waking moment. Hell, not even every waking moment. He’d dreamed about it again last night, and it was so real, it was as if it was happening all over again. But no matter how much Ward hoped the dream would change, it always ended the same way.

Failure.

Bernie sat forward. ‘OK, I came here today to run something by you, but now with this … additional development, I don’t think there’s a choice involved. ‘Management’s … not thrilled.’

‘I’m not thrilled either, Bernie. But I didn’t ask for a busted knee to keep me off the team for three months.’

And possibly more now, thanks to that goddamned fall.

‘It’s not just your absence – it’s what’s been going on during that absence too. The board is … concerned.’

Ward sat forward, his eyes wary.

‘Bernie, if there’s one thing you and I both agree on it’s that you never have to toss me a rainbow when you want to give me a hand grenade. There is nobody out there truly concerned about Ward McKenzie – other than you and Coach Lewis.’

‘About your reputation, I mean.’

‘My reputation? I’ve been sitting on the sidelines, bored out of my mind. OK, so I admit I might’ve been going a little overboard on some fun stuff, but it’s no big deal.’

Bernie looked pained when he said, ‘Like that time you had Johnny push you in a wheelchair through Times Square at three in the morning, the two of you half-naked and pumped up on booze and painkillers?’

Ward burst out laughing at the memory of that wild night. ‘He was Forrest and I was Lieutenant Dan.’

‘Doesn’t matter. You can’t do that stuff, make fun of disabled people, I mean.’

‘What the hell, Bernie?’ he said, incredulous. ‘They’re characters … from a movie. What, so even made-up people are getting offended now? And hey, I was using that chair for a while too, and I’m not getting all up on my high horse about it.’

The world truly had gone crazy.

‘I hear you, but that’s how it came across online. And there are way too many examples of similar stuff you’ve done over the years. While once upon a time, your little … stunts were sort of overlooked, the world’s changed, plus you’re older now and supposed to be more mature. A good influence. Fact is, if you want to get back on the ice and keep playing for the Panthers at this stage of your career, you’re going to have to make some changes.’ Bernie peered at him. ‘And maybe use a razor now and again and get a haircut. You look like shit.’